Bearing



Patented Mar. 1G, 1935 Unitas stares y anales rarest orgies BMG JuliusE. Shafer,` Fort Wayne, Ind. Application July 27, 1931, Serial No.553,246 9 Claims. (Cl. 308-207) This invention relates to bearingsprovided with lubricant-retaining members.

More specically my invention relates to sealed anti-friction bearingsfor carrying radial and/or two-direction thrust loads. Bearingsaccording to my invention are adapted to be mounted in pillow blocks andserve as means for mounting shafting.

One object of my invention is to provide a bearing of what may be calleda non-adjustable type and of a structure which is inexpensive toproduce, effective in action, easily mounted or dismounted and isself-aligning.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sealed bearing withlubricant retaining members so that the bearing may be lubricated at tbetime of its assembly at the manufacturing plant and thus prevent thebearing from being burned out in the event that it is not lubricatedwhen installed for service.

Other and further objects' of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and drawing which form a part of thisspecification.

0n the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side .view, partly in section, of a bearing embodying myinvention, and showing a portion of a shaft carried thereby and a pillowblock mounting.

Figure 21s an end view of Figure 1 looking from the right.

As shown on the drawing:

The same reference numerals indicate identical parts in both figures.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that thebearing itself comprises an outer race ring 3, a pair of inner racerings 4 `and 5, a set of rolling elements 6 between the inner race ringIl, and the outer race ring 3, a similar set of rolling elements l,between the race ring 3 and the race ring 5, and a member for connectingthe bearing to the shaft such as the contractible adapter sleeve 8. Inaddition to the above mentioned parts, the adapter sleeve 8 carries anut 9 on one end for drawing the parts together and a lock nut Ill onthe other end. The race rings carry lubricant-retaining members whichwill be presently described. The outer race ring 3 has its outer surfaceformed as a central section of a sphere, while its inner surface ispreferably formed with raceways adapted to carry radial and lthrustloads toward the center of the widthV of the race ring. Each of theouter or end faces of the race ring 3 as shown is preferably chamberedto receive a pressed steel retainer member Il which extends toward theaxis of the bearing and overlaps the large diameter of the inner racering and serves to maintain these race rings and the rolling elements inapproximate operating position, even when the con- 5 necting adapter 8is removed. The retainer members II also serve as a part of a labyrinthpacking to retain lubricant within the bearing. Each of the inner racerings d and 5 carry an outwardly extending flange I2 which cooperateswith 10 the retainer II to form the labyrinth packing.

The inner surfaces of both race rings 4 and 5 are preferably finished toa continuous taper, and the outer surface of the connecting adaptersleeve 8 is correspondingly formed. The adapter sleeve 15 8 is threadedat each end to receive the nuts 5 and I0 which, as shown, may beexteriorlv formed to be adjusted in any suitable manner. The adapter 8is axially slotted as at I3, said slots alternating fromv opposite endswhereby to permit the bore of the adapter to be contracted and therebyengage with the shaft upon which the bearing is mounted when nuts 9 andI0 are advanced toward their operative position. It should beunderstood, however, that any means for securing the bearing to theshaft may be used.

The pillow block shown consists of the base Id and upper section I5, thebearing ring surface -being spherically formed to permit the bearing tond its proper running position. 30

Any suitable lubricant admission passage I6 is provided, and a pin I1,entering a slotted portion of the race ring 3, prevents the latter fromrotating without its mounting.

To assemble the bearing shown in the drawing, after the parts have allbeen produced, the rolling elements (shown as tapered rollers, althoughit is obvious that balls or other anti-friction elements may be used)and the inner race rings are assembled in the outer race ring, theflange I2 4o having been previously applied to the inner race, and theretainers I I pressed into engagement with the outer race ring 3.

In assembling the bearing upon a shaft independently oi' the pillowblock construction, the 45 adapter 8 with nut Ill partly removed and thenut 9 wholly removed therefrom is first placed in the proper positionupon the shaft. The bearing assembly comprising a unit formed of parts3, d,

5, Ii, 1, and II is then slid into position upon the 50 adapter 8 untilthe tapered space of the sleeve and the tapered inner faces of the racerings il and 5 contact. The nut 9 is then replaced upon the adapter 8until the nut engages one side face of the inner race ring 6,. Uponcontinued movement of the nut 9, the unit composed of parts 3, 4, 5, 6,l, and il is moved axially upon the adapter 8 thereby contracting thelatter into tight engagement with the shaft. When this action has beencompleted, the nut luis then tightened into engagement with one sideface of the inner race ring 5 to hold the entire assembly in itsadjusted position upon the shaft. It should be understood that any meansfor connecting the bearing to the shaft may be used in place of theadapter and nuts 9 and IU. For example, it is obvious to those skilledin the art that a set screw arrangement may be used.

If the bearing and its shaft are to be mounted in the pillow block shownin the drawing, the strap or upper portion l5 of the pillow block isremoved and the shaft and its bearing placed in the base It and thestrap I5 replaced.

To cli'smount the bearing from the shaft after having moved the partsfrom the pillow block or other mounting, the nut 9 is rst unscrewed andthen the nut l0 is used to move the inner race rings of the adaptertoward the same end thereof to release the race ring from the adapterand the adapter from the shaft.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and therefore d0 not purpose limitingthe patent granted .hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

`1. In abearing,the combination of an outer race ring having an interiorraceway formed therein, a pair of inner race rings having exteriorraceways formed thereon,rolling elements for the bearing,a

' retaining cup on each side of the outer race ring and overlapping theinner race rings to maintain them in approximate operating assembly, acontinuously tapered seat formed through both inner race rings, anadapter extending through both inner race rings, and a nut threaded uponone end of the adapter for bringing the parts into operative relation.

2. In a bearing, the combination of an outer race ring having aspherical outer surface and provided on each side with a retainermounting portion, a housing for the outer race ring and engaging thespherical surface thereof to form a mounting therefor, an inner racering having a tapered bore, rolling elements between the race ring, anexteriorly tapered sleeve within the inner race ring and projecting onboth sides'thereof;

a retainer carried by each side of the outer lrace ring and providedwith a central opening of less diameter than the lmaximumV diameter ofthe inner race ring, an adjusting member on each extension of theysleeve and cooperating with the inner race ring to movethe sleeve ineither direction and cooperating with the retainer to exclude foreignsubstances fror the bearing and retain lubricant therein. 4

3. A sealed bearing unit adapted to be mounted in a pillow block andcarry a shaft,` comprising an outer race ring having an outer surfacefor engaging the pillow block, an inner race ring adapted to be securedto the shaft, anti-friction elements between the inner and outer racering, radially extending portions on the sides of the inner race ringand a retaining member extending inwardly from each side of the outerrace ring and overlapping the radially extending portion of theinnerrace ring, said members cooperating to retain lubricant in thebearing and exclude dirt from entering the bearing from the outside. 4.A bearing unit for mounting in pillow blocks and the like comprising, incombination, a shaft adapter having a tapered outside surface, a taperedinner race ring carried by said adapter, an outer race in .spacedrelation from said inner race ring, anti-friction means between saidrace rings, radially extending edge portions on said inner race ring,retaining members on the outer ring extending over the edge portion ofsaid inner ring, and nuts in screw thread relation with the adaptercooperating with the inner race ring to move said adapter andcooperating with the retainerpmembers to exclude foreign substances fromthe bearing and retain lubricants therein.

5. A sealedbearing unit comprising an outer race ring having an interiorraceway, an inner race ring structure in spaced relation from the outerrace ring, said structure defining an outer raceway in the centralportion thereof and a peripheral groove near the side thereof,antifriction means between the inner and outer race rings cooperatingwith the raceways thereon, a retaining member carriedby said inner racering structure and extending radially therefrom, a second retainingmember carried by the outer race ring and extending laterally andinwardly therefrom to overlap the other retainer member and extend intosaid groove in spaced relation from the walls of the groove.

6. A sealed bearing unit comprising an outerv race ring, an inner racering structure, antifriction means disposed between said inner and outerrace ring, said inner race ring structure defining peripheral groovesnear the sides thereof, retainer members carried by said inner race ringstructure and extending radially therefrom near the sides thereof, otherretaining members carried by the outer race ring and extending inwardlytherefrom to overlap the first mentioned retainer members and extendinto the grooves defined by the inner race ring structure in spacedrelation to the walls of the grooves.4

'7. In a bearing, the combination of an outer race ring having aninterior raceway formed therein, a pair of inner race rings havingexterior raceways formed thereon in spaced relation from the interiorraceway of the outer race ring, said inner race rings being adaptedto-be seated around a shaft, anti-friction means between said inner andouter race rings bearing on the raceways thereof and retainer memberscarried by, the outer race ring at-each side thereof and extendinginwardly to overlap the inner race rings for maintaining the bearing inoperative assembly-even when removed from a shaft.

. 8. A bearing unit comprising an outer race from to overlap theretaining members carried by the inner race ring whereby the bearing issealed and maintained in operative assembly even when disengaged from ashaft.

' 9. A sealed bearing unit comprising an outer race ring having aninterior raceway, an inner 75 'thereof and a peripheral groove near theside thereof, anti-friction means between the inner and outer race ringscooperating with the raceways thereon, a retaining member carried bylsaid inner race ring structure and extendingradially therefrom, and asecond retaining member carried by the outer race ring and extend inginwardly into said groove in spaced relation from the walls of thegroove to overlap the vrst- 5 mentioned retaining member.

JULIUS E. SHAFER.

